Cicek: Terrorism Which Has Hit Turkey Will Hit Others One Day Sooner Or Later

ANKARA - Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said on Monday that terrorism which had hit Turkey would hit others one day sooner or later.
Following the meeting of Council of Ministers, Cicek told reporters that Saturday's terrorist attacks in Istanbul were taken up in the meeting.
Cicek said that a group of bloody terrorist were freely moving in some of countries which had sent condolence messages to Turkey.
There were associations of those organizations in those countries, terrorists could easily take shelter in those countries, collect money on behalf of the organization, hold meetings and staged attacks, Cicek noted.
Cicek said that those countries called whoever Turkey named ''terrorist'' as ''freedom fighters'' and granted political asylum right.
''They have supported these terrorists just to deteriorate peace and stability of Turkey and interrupt development efforts and will continue to do so. They have succeeded in their efforts at a certain extend,'' Cicek said.
Cicek stated that those countries used them ''as a political instrument'' and those countries were ''very close'' with those terrorists and used those ''murderers.''
Turkey's requests for extradition of some terrorists and its searches for cooperation were returned ''by unconvincing reasons'' or ''suspended'', Cicek said.
Cicek went on saying, ''then, what is the use of these condolence messages? What is their meaning? We believe that terrorism which has hit Turkey today will also hit them one day sooner or later. Turkey is determined to fight against terrorism. Turkey has coped with it without any hesitations, by being self-confident, calm and determined and it will continue to do so. Nobody should doubt that. All our citizens should have confidence in our state and us.''
''Turkey will continue to walk on the path it believes with determination. We thank all countries who have sent messages to us. But, they should know that Turkey doesn't want a message but wants international cooperation, joint fight, and a determined stance in the name of the future of the humanity. Everybody should understand and define what terrorism and terrorist are. Maybe, the plague of this age has started to infiltrate in their own borders. This reality should be well understood. We believe that our determination will yield result soon,'' Cicek added.
EVALUATIONS MADE AT THE MEETING REGARDING BOMB ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL
Cicek said some of the countries which sent messages of condolences to Turkey following the bomb attacks expended support to murderers shedding blood in Turkey.
Cicek said, ''some countries, who sent messages of condolences to us after the attacks, should make soul searching. This will be more meaningful than sending us messages of condolences. Fight against terrorism will be more influential.''
Speaking after Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said attacks, which had been staged against the two synagogues in Istanbul simultaneously, were taken up at the meeting, stressing that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu gave information to the members of the council about the developments so far.
Describing the bomb attacks as ''barbarous'' and ''inhumane'', Cicek said, ''we curse those responsible for the attacks and their collaborators. They committed an inhumane crime for whatever reason they made it. Those are not Muslims. We offer condolences and implore God's strength upon all who are grieving for their beloved ones.''
Cicek said Turkey lost more than its 30,000 people in terrorism, and still feels the grieves of it. ''I am sorry to say that there are people who still hope for help from terrorism. They think they can lead somewhere through terrorism. Everybody should know that nobody could reach his goal through this way. Turkey in every opportunity called for cooperation in international platform to eliminate this humanity calamity,'' he noted.
Cicek said Turkey always called for joint actions and measures to be taken, noting that, ''unfortunately it could not get necessary and sincere reply to those calls in time. Turkey is a country which was left alone in its fight against terrorism. Many countries, instead of giving a response to them and making cooperation against them, they supported murderers shedding blood in Turkey. They gave training to those murderers. They either expended logistic support or protected them.''
Cicek said, ''this protection still continues. Those countries continue to live with their shame.''

(BRC-AY) 17.11.2003